Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognise a Palestinian state as EU rift with Israel widens

BARCELONA, Spain (AP): Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday (May 28) in a coordinated effort by the three western European nations to add international pressure on Israel to soften its devastating response to last year's Hamas-led attack. Tel Aviv slammed the diplomatic move that will have no immediate impact on its grinding war in Gaza.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told his nation in a televised address from Madrid that "this is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace."